Traditions and holidays

Swedish national holidays are firmly rooted in traditional celebrations. Holidays in Sweden revolve around the seasons, religious observances and most of all — the sun.

In December, throughout the country, candles, Christmas lights and brightly lit paper stars illuminate the darkness from windows. In late April, Valborg bonfires are lit to mark the start of the spring. And around the longest day of the year, it's time for Midsummer, which most celebrate in the countryside. This is when you’ll find plenty of pickled herring, traditional songs and otherwise sensible adults dancing around the maypole in the classic frog dance.

On top of a five-week paid vacation, Sweden has eleven public holidays, or ”red days,” which mean offices and often schools are closed. In some companies, employees even get to leave work early the day before a public holiday.

For school children, there are a number of breaks on top of national holidays. Typically, autumn holidays are taken at the end of October, followed by Christmas break and winter holidays — usually during February. There is a break around Easter in the spring, and most importantly, ten weeks of summer vacation.

Because everyone is celebrating, the majority of businesses — including shops, banks, museums and restaurants — are closed on Midsummer’s Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For the rest of the public holidays, Sunday hours (usually 10:00 am to 4:00 pm) apply. Some restaurants are also closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Read more about Swedish traditions